5 SUPPLEMENTS FOR WINTER

Here are five supplements for winter your bathroom cabinet should have. 

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS

To talk about the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids would be an endless rant. Lowering blood pressure, improving heart and eye health, healthy skin, preventing heart attacks and strokes, and the list goes on. A diet lacking in these fatty acids causes tiredness, mood swings, dry skin and depression during the cold winter months. You can add oils from walnuts, hemp and flaxseed or eat herring and salmon to supplement your diet. On top of that, you can opt for plant-based vegan Omega-3 in capsule form (which contains DHA and DPA).

VITAMIN D

The body, through the skin, can produce vitamin D from sunlight. Unfortunately, during winter (October to early March) in our part of the globe, the sun does not have enough UVB radiation for the skin to make vitamin D needed to support our bones and immune function. Since our diets alone cannot give us this vitamin in the recommended amounts, the only option is to up our body's vitamin D levels is to take supplements. 

Hint:

Doctors recommend that adults take 10mcg of vitamin D daily in autumn and winter. But those with a vitamin D deficiency should take it throughout the year.

ZINC

Another winter supplement you shouldn't skimp on is zinc. Why? Because you need this micronutrient or mineral to prevent colds and dry skin which are common during winter. Zinc performs a lot of tasks in our bodies. It is involved in several body processes, supports immune function and macronutrient metabolism and maintains healthy skin, hair and nails.

VITAMIN C

Well, we are not surprised vitamin C is a part of this list of five. For one thing, it's the go-to immune-booster for winter, when colds and flu hit. In addition, it protects our skin and hair from dryness and extra sensitivity caused by the cold weather. This winter, eat a diet rich in veggies like parsley, peppers, cabbage, and fruits like rose hips, oranges and strawberries. Do also get skin and hair products infused with this vitamin to give them the extra care they need. If you are not getting enough vitamin C from your diet you can benefit from taking a vitamin C supplement daily (you can get them over the counter in US stores like Walgreens, CVS and Walmart, or stores like Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Superstore and Walmart in Canada).

VITAMIN B

For that extra energy boost you crave during the winter, the B vitamins (B-complex) are what you need. They are a group of eight essential water-soluble vitamins responsible for many bodily functions, such as the production of energy and the normal functioning of the nervous system. However, we don't get all the B vitamins from our diet. For instance, B12 is not available in plants. That's why taking supplements can help prevent a deficiency and its related potential health risks.

By Nana Ama Afoa Osae I Writer I GreatWonderful Team

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